The Watcher by Thomas Blackshear

Thomas Blackshear Art Gallery

Gallery updated on Tuesday, July 28, 2026

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Thomas Blackshear portrait

THOMAS BLACKSHEAR II, the son of an Air Force captain, was born in Waco, Texas, and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. "Drawing was all I ever liked to do," he says. "While all the other guys were playing baseball or basketball, I was in my house, drawing." He pursued an interest in art throughout high school, securing a scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago. After a year there, he transferred to the nearby Academy of Art. While finishing his college education, he was recruited by Hallmark Cards and later became the apprentice of illustrator Mark English. <br><BR>
Blackshear settled in Kansas City, where he became head illustrator at the prestigious Godbold/Richter Studio. A year later, he began a prosperous freelance career, illustrating many advertisements, several U.S. Postal Service stamp collections - one called "Black Heritage," another on classic movies, and a third on jazz musicians - and several series of Hamilton Group collector s plates featuring scenes from Star Wars, Star Trek, and The Wizard of Oz. Although he was successful, he was dissatisfied and decided to pursue a career in fine art.<br><BR>


Blackshear has received many awards for his artwork, including the Society of Illustrators coveted Gold Medal. He was profiled on The Living Canvas, an art magazine of the airwaves that was shown on public television, and he has been featured on the Ebony/Jet Showcase and The 700 Club, and in The Saturday Evening Post. An exhibit of his original works for the Black Heritage stamp series premiered in 1992 at the Smithsonian s National Museum of American History and subsequently toured the United States.<br><BR>


Browse and enjoy the great African American Art work from one of Today's most collected African American Artists, Thomas Blackshear..

Thomas Blackshear Current Portfolio

The Watcher Beauty And The Beast Star Trek Lt. Uhura 25th Anniversary Plate James Cagney Star Trek Picard - The Next Generation Liberty Poster Print Beauty And The Beast Forgiven 1988 Wizard Of Oz If I Were King Of The Forest Watchers In The Night (canvas Edition) With Forgiven Witness Cards Golden Breeze Anniversary Edition Little Pilot Adorable Boy Hand Signed Artist Proof Star Trek Riker - The Next Generation Du Sable-Commemorative Pane Preparing to Sound the Alarm Lithograph Intimacy (serigraph) Original Release The Vessel Indian Paint Brush Super Bowl XXXVII Commemorative Poster Next Generation Crew - Dr. Crusher Dinky Toot Innocent Wonders CATCHING A BLESSING GIRL HAND SIGNED ARTIST PROOF Little Pilot Adorable Girl Hand Signed Artist Proof Golden Breeze Framed Anniversary Edition Little Pilot Adorable Boy And Girl Artist Proof Hand Signed By Thomas Blackshear Next Generation Crew - Counselor Troi Star Trek Captain Kirk 25th Anniversary Plate Intimacy (serigraph) Unframed Original Release Artist Proof Catching A Blessing Artist Proof (set of 2) 1988 Wizard Of Oz The Great And Powerful Oz Star Wars Series - Luke And Darth Vader Beauty And The Beast 1988 Wizard Of Oz Star Trek Collector Plate 25th Anniversary For You Night In Day - Unframed Print Artist Proof Pinkie Poo Innocent Wonders Artist Signed Beauty And The Beast - Unframed Print Star Trek Scotty 25th Anniversary Plate Zip Doodle Innocent Wonders Star Trek Mr. Spock 25th Anniversary Plate Star Trek Dr. Mccoy 25th Anniversary Plate The Sound Of Victory Intimacy Anniversary Edition Number 2 Wizard Of Oz - A Glimpse Of The Munchkins Texas Chillin Lithograph Black Heritage Jean Baptiste Set Ready For Battle Liberty Print Only - Limited Edition Next Generation Crew - Data Magnificent Mare Awakening 1988 Wizard Of Oz We're Off To See The Wizard Swan Song Next Generation Crew - Geordi Laforge Star Trek Hikaru Sulu 25th Anniversary Plate 1988 Wizard Of Oz Dorothy Meets The Scarecrow Now What? Lithograph Classic Movie Monsters TWINKY WINK CLOWN Next Generation Crew - Lt. Worf Angel At Rest Waggletag Star Wars Series - R2d2 And Wicket Liberty Framed Print - Limited Edition Angel At Rest Artist Proof Hand Signed By Thomas Blackshear Rustic Decorative Stand CATCHING A BLESSING BOY HAND SIGNED ARTIST PROOF